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Objective: To evaluate the relationship between calciferol (vitamin D), cobalamin (vitamin-B12), and Stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) circulating levels in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), patients with DM type 2 (T2DM) without neuropathy, and healthy control groups. Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Internal Medicine, Namik Kemal University of Medicine, Tekirdag, Turkey, between November 2020 and February 2022. Methodology: Healthy, age, and gender matched volunteers who were admitted to the hospital for a check-up with no health problem constituted the control group (n=30). Cases diagnosed with T2DM (n=30) and those with DPN (n=30) comprised the experimental group. Stromelysin-1, calciferol, and cobalamin levels were analysed from blood samples from all groups using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a commercial kit. Tukey's Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test was performed after one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for intergroup comparisons. Alpha significance level was accepted as

OBJECTIVE: Recent drug design studies suggest that inflammation is among the most important factors in the development of both intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD) and osteoarthritis (OA) due to cartilage damage. This study aimed to investigate whether the anti-inflammatory drug oseltamivir has a toxic effect on IVD and cartilage tissue cells. It assessed what effect oseltamivir has on hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 alpha (HIF1 alpha), which plays an important role in anabolic pathways in IVD and cartilage tissue. In addition, the study analyzed whether oseltamivir could inhibit the release of inflammatory interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) via the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappa B) signaling pathway by activating the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain and leucine-rich repeat protein-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human lumbar IVD (n = 8) tissues were isolated for annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) primary cell cultures, and human tibial and femoral cartilage tissues (n = 8) were isolated for primary chondrocyte cultures. Untreated groups served as the control and oseltamivir-treated groups as the study sample. Cell viability and cytotoxicity were evaluated at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h in all groups for changes in HIF1 alpha, IL-1 beta, NF-kappa B, and the NLRP3-inflammasome protein expressions using Western blotting. The a significance value was < 0.05. RESULTS: In the oseltamivir-treated groups, cell proliferation decreased in both AF/NP cell and chondrocyte cultures obtained from IVD cartilage tissues. After Western blotting analysis, changes were observed in the protein expressions of HIF1 alpha, IL-1 beta, NF-kappa B, and the NLRP3 inflammasome in both AF/NP cells and chondrocytes. The results were statistically significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Oseltamivir treatment may be a promising regenerative strategy to manage IVDD and osteoarthritic cartilage tissues.

AIM: To investigate the effects of metformin, a drug used widely for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, on human primary cell cultures prepared from uninjured segment of disc material intervertebral disk tissues. MATERIAL and METHODS: Primary cell cultures were prepared using the tissues of six patients (three males and three females) who had undergone lumbar microdiscectomy and sequestrectomy. Untreated samples served as the control group, and metformintreated samples served as the experimental group. All the samples were evaluated using an inverted light microscope, acridine orange/propidium iodide staining (AO/PI), and a fluorescence microscope. The cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of metformin, which was administered to the samples using a commercial MTT assay kit, were also evaluated. The data obtained were statistically assessed, and the alpha significance value was accepted as less than 0.05. In addition, for the groups’ changes in the expressions of chondroadherin (CHAD), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP-7), and matrix metalloproteinase 19 (MMP-19), genes related to the extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation were determined using gene-specific TaqMan Gene Expression Assays. RESULTS: The administration of the drug adversely affected nucleus pulposus (NP)/annulus fibrosus (AF) cells and extracellular matrix–like structures. This was statistically significant (p

Aims: The present article aimed to evaluate the drug therapy applied to patients who were followed up for SARS-CoV-2, and who were tested positive and negative 2019-nCov. Material and Methods: A comprehensive and systematic literature search of numerous electronic databases regarding patients SARS-CoV-2 was performed. Results: Patients with 2019-nCoV can be treated with ceftriaxone, moxifloxacin, oseltamivir, hydroxychloroquine, and patients with poor prognosis can also be given lopinavir/ritonavir. Conclusions: Not only rRT-qPCR test results and CT findings but also clinical evidence should be considered for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2., için pozitif ve negatif sonuçlar alınan olgulara uygulanan ilaç tedavisinin literatür eşliğinde değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı. Materyal ve Metodlar: Elektronik ortamda; 2019-nCoV nedeni ile SARS-CoV-2 tanısı ile takip edilen olgulara ait verilerin, ülke ve dil kısıtlaması olmaksızın literatürde yerini alan araştırma sonuçları ile kıyaslanması gerçekleştirildi. Bulgular: Seftriakson, moksifloksasin, oseltamivir, hidroksiklorokin ve prognozu kötüye giden olgularda, gerektiğinde lopinavir/ritonavir etken maddeli farmasötikler ile 2019-nCoV’un tedavi edilebileceği gözlemlendi. Sonuç: SARS-CoV-2 tanısı için sadece rRT-qPCR testi ya da radyolojik olarak CT bulguları ile karar verilmemelidir. Her iki analiz sonuçlarına ek olarak klinik bulgular ile ortak paydada karar verilerek, tanı

OBJECTIVE: The members of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family and cannabinoids (CBs) are reportedly associated with hippocampus-dependent memory functions. However, the effects of endogenously formed CBs on hippocampal long-term potentiation remain unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the changes in the gene and protein expression levels of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and NOTCH receptor 1 (NOTCH1) in rat hippocampal tissues treated with anandamide (AEA), AM251, 6-iodopravadolin (AM630), and N-[4-{[(3,4-Dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl}phenyl] (ML193). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were divided into 10 groups (n = five per group). The pharmaceuticals were administered via intraperitoneal injection once a day for seven days, except for the control group. The resected hippocampal tissues were then evaluated using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analysis. The data obtained were statistically analyzed, and p < 0.01 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Contrary to the literature, the changes in MMP-9 expression were not statistically significant, but the changes in PTEN and NOTCH1 were. The findings of this in vivo experimental study revealed that the agonists and antagonists acting on the CB system have significant molecular effects on hippocampal tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The changes in gene and protein expressions may be one of the reasons for the neurodegenerative processes observed in patients using these agonists and antagonists, whose effects on the CB system have not been fully explained yet. Our study can contribute to the literature as it is the first study investigating the MMP-9, PTEN and NOTCH1 gene and protein expression. Medical Research Center laboratory (Istanbul Medipol University)

Aim: This study investigates the effects of two direct factor Xa inhibitors, apixaban and rivaroxaban, and a direct thrombin inhibitor, dabigatran, on human primary chondrocytecultures. Materials and Methods:Monolayer cultured chondrocytes were prepared. Cell cultures were treated with dabigatran, apixaban, and rivaroxaban. Cultures without drug treatments served as the control group. Using an inverted light microscope, the cell surface morphology was examined. Cell viability and the toxicity of drugs were evaluated using a commercial assay kit, and the results were confirmed using two nucleic acid binding dyes, acridine orange and propidium iodide. The expressions of cartilage oligomeric protein, matrix metalloproteinase-7, and matrix metalloproteinase-19 were assessed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. All the analyses were performed within 21 days. The data obtained were statistically evaluated. Results:The administration of the three drugs changed the cell viability, proliferation, and expressions of cartilage oligomeric protein, matrix metalloproteinase-7, and matrix metalloproteinase- 19. The results were statistically significant (P

AIM: To investigate the effect of dabigatran, a new oral anticoagulant, on human primary cell cultures isolated from intact intervertebral disc tissue. MATERIAL and METHODS: Cell cultures were prepared from tissues obtained from six cases who had undergone surgery due to spinal trauma. Dabigatran, an active pharmacological agent, was applied to intact annulus fibrosus (AF)/nucleus pulposus (NP) primary cell cultures from the study group. After performing cell viability, toxicity, and proliferation tests on all cultures in the control and study groups, the surface morphologies of the samples were evaluated. Subsequently, chondroadherin (CHAD), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 and -19 expressions were measured via a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: In the proliferation assays performed on the 20th day of the study, cells in the dabigatran-supplemented group were reported to have lost 46.37% more viability than those in the control group. Expressions of all genes examined except MMP-13 were evaluated in the control group by time, but in contrast to the control group results, COMP and MMP-19 gene expressions decreased in the dabigatran-treated group. No CHAD or MMP-13 expression was noted in these cultures. CONCLUSION: The potential for a systemically applied drug to accumulate in tissue and negatively affect surrounding tissues and microstructures must be emphasized.

Aim:This study investigates the effects of two direct factor Xa inhibitors, apixaban and rivaroxaban, and a direct thrombin inhibitor, dabigatran, on human primary chondrocytecultures. Materials and Methods:Monolayer cultured chondrocytes were prepared. Cell cultures were treated with dabigatran, apixaban, and rivaroxaban. Cultures without drug treatments served as the control group. Using an inverted light microscope, the cell surface morphology was examined. Cell viability and the toxicity of drugs were evaluated using a commercial assay kit, and the results were confirmed using two nucleic acid binding dyes, acridine orange and propidium iodide. The expressions of cartilage oligomeric protein, matrix metalloproteinase-7, and matrix metalloproteinase-19 were assessed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. All the analyses were performed within 21 days. The data obtained were statistically evaluated. Results:The administration of the three drugs changed the cell viability, proliferation, and expressions of cartilage oligomeric protein, matrix metalloproteinase-7, and matrix metalloproteinase- 19. The results were statistically significant (P

Aim: In this study, it was firstly aimed to investigate the effect of Daptomycin (DAP) on the proliferation in Vancomycin (VCM)-administered primary chondrocyte cultures and non-drug-administered primary chondrocyte cultures. Our second objective was to investigate the effects of DAP and VCM on the NP-specific marker protein chondroadherin (CHAD), which is associated with spinal cord and dorsal column growth, on the transcription factor-1 alpha (HIF-1?), which is induced by hypoxia, and on a type II collagen (COL2A1), which is also known to play a significant role in the development of extracellular matrix, at the pharmaco-molecular level. Material and Methods: Standard human primary chondrocyte cultures were established. DAP and VCM were added to the samples. In all groups, molecular analysis was performed at 0th, 24th and 48th hours. In addition, the surface morphology of the cells was evaluated. Results: Changes in cell morphology and cell death in cultures were observed 24 hours after administration of antibiotics to cell cultures. It was observed that drug administration was associated with the cell viability and that cell viability rate for two antibiotics was similar at the 0th and 48th hours. The expression of three genes decreased at the 24th hour in the experimental group where DAP was administered. Conclusion: Thanks to this molecular-based research, it should not be forgotten that DAP and VCM active pharmacological agents, especially used in the treatment of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus induced surgical infections, have a negative effect on human chondrocyte and ECM components.